Apparatus for plating sheets



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' G. B. HoGABooM ET AL APPARATUS FOR PLATING SHEETS' Dec. 7, 1937.

Dec- 7, 1937 G. B. HoGABooM ET A1.

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APPARATUS FOR PLATING SHEETS Filed Dec.

GEORGE H'oenoom,

WESLEY F. HALL,

'ATTORNFIS Dec- 7, 1937 GQ B. HoGABooM ET AL 2,101,178

APPARATUS FOR PLATING SHEETS 17 sheetssheet 15 Filed Dec. 13, 1934 I'Nvriron; H0640 BOOM,

GEORGE WESLEY F. HALL,-

Arronnns De- 7, 1937 G. B. HOGABooM ET Al. 2,101,178

APPARATUS FOR PUATING SHEETS Filed Dec'. 15, 1934 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 16 InveNroRs GEORGE-.B- HOGABOOM,

WESLEY-F. HALL ATTURNEY:

Dec. 7, 1937.

G. B, HoGABooM ET A1.

APPARATUS FOR PLATING SHEETS Filed Dec. 13, 1934 17 Sheets-*Sheet 1'7 IVNVNS v Iw1lsuron.; GEORGE B.HOGABOOM,

wEsLsv F. HALL,

ATTomvevs @Nol Paieliied Dec. 7, 1937 vPA'IENT oFFicE i APPARATUS FonrLAr-ING SHEETS George B. Hogaboom, New Britain, Conn., and Wesley F. Hall, Matawan, N. J., assignors to Hanson-Van Winkle-Munning Company, Matawan, N.,J., a corporation of New Jersey- Application December 13, 1934, Serial No. 757,314

12'- Claims.

This invention relates to electroplating appara-` tus and, in particular, toapparatus of this type which is used for the plating of metal sheets.

One object of our invention is to provide an apparatus whereby metal sheets may be electroplated and similarly treated by being carried between the various processing stations on convey- OTS.

Another object is to provide apparatus for electroplating metal sheets, wherein the metal sheet is engaged by a clamp mounted on a carrier-bar, the latter being moved on conveyor chains through the various tanks, and transferred from tank to tank bytransfer mechanism. Another object is to provide an. apparatus for electroplating metal sheets in which there is a clamp, the jaws of which are automatically engaged and disengaged by .means encountered in their passage through the apparatus.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for v electroplating metal sheets in which there is a.

clamp in which the jaws are of a material to which theplated metal is non-adherent, whereby any metal deposited thereon during the'electroplating operations may be quickly and easily removed, as by stripping.

Another object is' to provide an apparatus for electroplating metal 'sheets 'in which there is a clamp having latch means for holding the jaws in one position, as in an open position, this latch means being operated either by hand .or automatically by cams or similar tripping mechaynisms, arranged at appropriate positions inthe apparatus. f I

Another object is to provide an apparatus for electroplating metal sheets in which-there is a Work carrier bar to which the clamps are attached and which is of a truss-like character pro- I Afaces of the sheet as it passes out of the solution ltank, thus returning the liquid to the tank y and reducing waste.

p Another object is to provide an apparatus forl electroplating metal sheetsvin which there is wip- Y ing means of this character, in which the wiping members cooperatev in timed relationship with the work carriers and clamps in such a manner, as to be opened when the clamps arrive at the wipers, and ,closed immediately after the clamps pass between the wiping members. i

Another object is to provide an apparatus forl (ci. 20c-5) electroplating metal sheets in which there is a holding rack for holding the metal sheets to be .plated in such a manner that they are yieldably pressed to the clamps in a position t o bequickly and easily engaged by the latter. l

Another object is to provide an apparatus for electroplating meta-l sheets in which there 'is a conveying device wherein the carrier bars are carried from the drag chains to the transfer chains without shock to or dislodgment ofV the ,"work sheets.

- In the drawings: v`

Figure 1 is a` diagrammatic side elevation showing the relationship of the apparatus of our invention to Aone embodiment of the general apparatus in which it may be used;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;` v

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic left-end elevation of thel apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2, at the loading end of the machine;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic right-end. elevation of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2, at the unloading end of the machine;

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the automaticall actuated work-holding clamp of our invention;

Figure is a side elevation of the automatic clamp shown in'ligure` 4;

Figure 7 is a front elevation of the clamp of Figures 5 and 6, with the upper portion modified for manual operation;

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the carrier bar of our invention;

Figure9 is an end elevation of the carrier bar shown in ,Figure 8; k l

Figure 10-is a perspective view of the wiping devVice of our invention, showing the reciprocating wiping members; v

Figure 11 is a plan View of the reciprocating wiper shown in Figure 12;

Figure 12 is a. side elevation of the reciprocating wiper shown in Figure 10; l

` Figure 13 is an end elevation of the reciprocating wiper shown in Figure l0; Figure 14 is a plan .view of a pivoting typeI of wiper whichisra. modication of the wiper shown in Figure 10;

Figure 15 is a side elevation of the pivoting wiper shown in Figure 1.4;`

Figure 16 is an end elevation of the wiper shown in Figure' 14; v

Figure 17 is a side elevation of the holding rack for holding the Ametal sheets in position to be en- .gaged by the clamps on the machine;

Figure 18 is an end elevation of the holding rack shown in Figure 17;

Figure 19 is a plan view of the holding rack 'shown in Figure 17;

Figure 20 is a cross section through the apparatus along the line 2li- 20 of Figure 1;

Figure 21 is a somewhat diagrammatic side View showing the means by which the sheets to be plated are conveyed horizontally through the tanks, transferred vertically over the boundaries therebetween, and wiped free of liquid while being transferred- Figure 22 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of the inter-chain conveying means at the loading end of the apparatus for transferring the work carrier bars from the main conveyor chains to the first transfer chains, the view taken looking outwardly from the inside of the machine and with the near side plate removed;

Figure 23 is an enlarged end elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 22;

Figure 24 is a side elevation similar to Figure 22, but showing the inter-chain conveying means in side elevation at the unloading end of the machine, the view taken looking from the insidel of the machine and with the near side plate 244 of the set-down cradle removed, showing in dot ted lines the position of the carrier bar;

Figure 25 is an end elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 24;

Figure 26 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of the end of one of the work carrier bars;-

shown in Figure 26;

Figure 28 is a longitudinal section through the set-down cradle at the loading end of the machine, taken along the line 28-28 of Figure 29;-

processing tanks, and having conveyor chains along side of the tanks for transporting carrier bars from which the work pieces are suspended. Separate transfer chains are arranged at the 'partitions' between the tanks so as to transfer the carrier bar and work pieces over these partitions from tank to tank. A conveying device is provided at the loading and unloading ends of the apparatus in' order to facilitate the passing of the carrier bar from the main conveyor chain (known as the drag chain) to the transfer chains without excessive shock or possible dislodgment of the work sheets. The work pieces, which are in the form of metal sheets, are held by clamps which are attached to arms mounted on the carrier bars. The apparatus is provided with tripping means for tripping the latch members of these clamps'and causing their jaws to engage or disengage, as desired, in order to grasp or release the work pieces.

The apparatus is provided with a wiping device for removing the liquid clinging to the work sheets, as they are drawn out froml the processing tanks, especially from the tank containing the electroplating solution. A holding rack is provided for holding the metal sheets in a position where. they may be quickly grasped and withdrawn by the clamps as these arrive in the appropriate positions.

Figure 27 is an end'elevation of the devicev General arrangement of the conveying apparatus and tanks Referring to the drawings in detail, Figures 1 to 3 inclusive show the general apparatus which is used for conveying the work through the various tanks, as well as the tanks themselves. These three figures are diagrammatic, in that they omit details which form no part of the present invention.

AThe apparatus as a whole consists of a framework composed of vertical end members or pillars I and 2 fjoined by horizontal frame members 3 and 4 to-the intermediate vertical members or pillars 5, 6,1, 8, 9, I0, II,` I2, I3, I4 and I5. Cross members I6 serve to interconnect the tops of these vertical pillars.

Arranged between the opposite rows of pillars (Figure 2) are the various processing tanks. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, these tanks consist of an acid tank I1, cold-rinsing tanks I8 and I9, a plating tank 20, a cold-rinsing tank 2l and a hot-rinsing tank 22. The solutions used in these tanks are of the character known to those skilled in the art, and vary with the particular kind of metal which is to be deposited upon the work pieces.

The framework comprising the vertical pillars and horizontal members interconnecting them is provided with main conveyor chains or drag chains 26 and 21 of Van endless type and arranged on opposite sides of the tanks I1 to 22. These chains-run from the loading station, generally designated 28, to the unloading station at the opposite end of the machine (Figure l), generally designated 29. 'Ihe drag chains 23 and 21 on the pillars I are supported by suitable sprockets 39 and 3| respectively as well as by intermediate sprockets 32 arranged upon the intermediate vertical pillars 6 to I3 inclusive. The chains 26 and 21 are supported along their upper reaches `by the guide troughs 33, which extend from one end of the machine to the other endand are supported by the vertical pillars of the framework. At the unloading station 29, the chains 26 and 21 are supported by suitable sprockets 34 and 35 mounted upon the end pillars 2.

The driving mechanism for the main conveyor chains 26 and 21 forms no part of the present invention. The driving connection is applied at the driving sprockets 36 mounted on the pillars 5, and guided by the sprockets 31 upon the pillars I5. The power received from the driving motor 38 (Figure 1) passes through the reduction gear b ox 39, whence it is carried by the longitudinal shafts 40 running between the vertical pillars 5 and I5. The pillars 6 and I4 are provided with the sprockets 4 IA and 42 which receive power from the shafts 49' and transmit this power by means of the chains 43 and 44 to the sprockets 45 and 46 mounted upon the pillars 5 and I5. The sprockets and 46y are mounted upon the shafts 41 and 48, hence the chains 2B and 21 are driven by this arrangement.-

The apparatus (Figure 1) is likewise provided with transfer chains for transferring the work pieces from tank to tank over the partitions between the tanks. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the lefthand end of the machine is provided with the opposite transfer chains 50 which are driven from the sprockets 5I receiving power from the shafts 40, and mounted upon thevertical pillars 5. The transfer chains' 59 pass around the guide' sprockets 52 on the vertical pillars I, thence over the guide sprockets 53 and around the guide channel members 64. The latter provide guidance for the chains 56, in an orbital path of irregular outline.

In a similar manner', the `unloading station 29 of the apparatus isprovided with transfer chains 55 on opposite sides of the tank 22 and driven from the sprockets 56 on thevertical pillars I5,

and receiving power' from the longitudinal shafts 46. The transfer chains 55 likewise pass around guide sprockets 51 and 58, and through guide channel members 59 in a manner similar to that previouslydescribed for the transfer chains 54.

54 and 55. 'I'he intermediate transfer chains 60 to 64 inclusive are guided throughout the remainder of their extent by the guide channel members 10, these being of similar construction and having grooved portions adapted to cause the transfer chains to move in an orbital path of irregular outline.

B etween the various transfer chains extend the secondary conveyor chains 'II in a longitudinal direction along the'sides of the tanks. At their lefthand ends the conveyor chains 1| are supported upon sprockets 12 mounted on the vertical pillars 5, whereas at their righthand ends the sprockets 'I3 upon the vertical pillars I5 serve av similar purpose. The secondary conveyor chains 1I are driven by the sprocket 14 on the pillar 1, receiving power from the longitudinal shafts 40; and `also by the sprocket 15 mounted upon the `shaft 48 which is driven from the shaft 41. The

latter is driven by the sprocket 96 receiving power from the shafts 40 and the sprocket 42 throughl the chain 44. Thus when the previously described mechanism is set in motion, the main conveyor chains 26 and 21 move synchronously around the outside of the frame structure; the transfer chains similarly move synchronously around their respective orbits; and the secondary conveyor chains 1| move horizontally to convey the carrier bars between the transfer chains.

'It will be understood that the carrier bars extend across the frame between the oppositely disposed sets of conveyor chains, as will be described later,

The electrical current by which the metal is caused to be deposited upon the work pieces is produced -in the motor generator unit 16. The positive terminals thereof are connected to the typical anode bars 11 and 18, which extend along the electroplating bath. The anodes are suspended in the 'solution from these bars, and consist of rods, disks or other suitable shapes of the metal to be electrofdeposited. The negative terminal of the motor l'generator 16 is connected tov the cathode conductor 19, which connects lt to the cathode bars 80 and 8 I, running along the opposite edges`of the electroplating tank 28. Contact between the worklpieces and the cathode bars is made ina manner subsequently to be described.

Holding rack for sheets The work pieces to be ele-ctroplated by the apparatus of our invention are in the form of metal sheets, and pass through the apparatus-in an f edgewise direction. The sheets customarily used are three feet long andtwo and one-half'feet I wide, but greater or lesser dimensions may obviously be employed. These sheets may be so thin that they are incapable of supporting themselves when placed edgewise in a verticall direction, hence a special holding rack has been devised for' this purpose. (Figures 17 to 19).

' This holding rack consists of a base 85 having brackets 86 projecting upwardly and supporting a shaft 81 upon which the angle members 88 are pivotally supported. The horizontal arms 89 of the angle members 88 are urged upwardly by the coll springs 98 surrounding the pins 9 I. TheA vertical arms 92 of the angle members 88 are urged apart by the coil springs 93, but with a lesser tension than that of the coll springs 98.

Attatched to the vertical arms 92 of the angle members 88 are the side members 94, these being members 94, the holder may be adapted to receive different sizes of sheets to be plated.

'I'he lower edge of the sheet rests in the trough ports 91, whereas near its upper edge it is engaged by the pressure lingers 98 which are urged toward onev another by the coil springs 99, At the upper ends of the side members 94 are the contact rods |00. These are so positioned that the work-holding clamp, Ihereinafter described, will'encounter them andalign the holder so that the lclamp is properly directed downward to engage the work sheets. The latter are placed in the Yholder by the workmen in sch a manner that their. upper edges extend slightly above the contact fingers A98. The holder just described is used at the loading end of the machine, as at the station 28 (Figure v1).

For the unloading end of the machine, any suitable receiver may be used for vreceiving the plated and unloaded shets, such as the one shown in -Figure 8. This consists of a base 210 having a plurality of troughs 21| arranged beneath the work-holding clamps IIU. Each trough 21| has a curved wall 212 on one side thereof which prevents damage to the edges of the sheets I I I after they drop from the clamps |I0, and permits the sheets I|I to nest if they are allowed to pile up,- such as might occur during an adjustment or because of a temporary breakdown of some part of the apparatus. 'Ihe sheets III thus accumu` lating are prevented by their close contact with held in the receiving troughs 21| until the oper-v ator is able to resume sending them along to the remaining stages of the process.

Work-holding clamps edge of the sheenl in order that if anydefect i s occasioned by its presence it will not cause excessive spoilage of the product; in other words,v

so that but a slight part of the edge need be removed in order to eliminate the spots where Ithe clamps III) engage the work sheets III,

one another from drying or tarnishing, and arev This. 65

'I'he automatic work-holding clamp IIU (Fig- II2 and I I3, which are pivotally connected to one 

